An 18-year-old immigrant is set to be deported after a confrontation with a protester in Southampton last week, as tensions continue to heat up between immigrants and anti-immigrant demonstrators.
Police say Joel Martinez was arrested after stealing a protester?s sign outside a 7-11 in just one of several incidents in the last few weeks. According to investigators, a deportation warrant from immigration enforcement came up on the computer while Martinez was being processed. Martinez will be sent back to his native Honduras, though officials would not explain why he was previously wanted.
Cops say the protesters are mostly contractors who cannot compete with colleagues who hire day laborers to keep costs down. Immigration rights activists say the protesters are harassing the workers and making the situation worse.